Vacuum cleaner with concealed cord-reel



B. J. TAMARIN ET AL VACUUM CLEANER WITH CONCEALED CORD-REEL March 23, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 2. 1947 B gly ENToR.

miffifigilz lie r n March 23, 1954 J, TAMARlN ET AL 2,672,642

VACUUM CLEANER WITH CONCEALED CORD-REEL Filed Sept. 2, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY 5317 5510mm??? March 23, 1954 B. J. TAMARIN ET AL 2,672,642

VACUUM CLEANER WITH CONCEALED CORD-REEL Filed Sept. 2, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. fierzzarc c jgmazjc n March 23, 1954 B. J. TAMARIN ETAL VACUUM CLEANER WITH CONCEALED CORD-REEL Filed Sept. 2, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 g .n a 2M a. 0 VEe V2 af Q M .wf mm Q m? k fl v A, VY W Y 6 3 w v Q l V 1 W w m March 23, 1954 B. J. TAMARIN ET AL VACUUM CLEANER WITH CONCEALED CORD -REEL 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 2, 1947 INVENTQR. 26m

Patented Mar. 23, 1954 VACUUM CLEANER WITH OONCEALED CORD-REEL Bernard J.

Tamarin, Flourtown,

and Adolph Meletti, Philadelphia, Pa., assignors to Vacuum Cleaner Corporation of America,

Philadelphia,

Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September 2, 1947, Serial No. 771,192

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to a new and use- .ful vacuum cleaner, and it relates more particularly to a vacuum cleaner of the type in which the entire machine, including the suction-producing parts, traverses the floor-area to be gleaned, and which carries its own dust-collector I ag.

An object of the present invention is a vacuum cleaner construction with self-contained cord-reel in which the cord is extensible and retractable, at will, into the main body of the vacuum cleaner housing, with passageways for the cord through the handle and through the juncture between the handle and chassis.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner which will be more versatile and efiective in actual use and more convenient under the many operating conditions of its use.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate like parts,

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner exemplifying one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 represents a top plan view of the vacuum cleaner shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 represents a side-elevational view of the vacuum cleaner shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 represents a plan view of the vacuum cleaner (representing one embodiment of the present invention) viewed from below, but with parts omitted and other parts shown in dotted lines, in phantom, and with other parts shown in solid lines, so as to show the relationship of the various parts, at various levels.

Figure 5 represents a rear elevational view of the vacuum cleaner embodying the present invention, but with the dust-collector bag removed, and with the cord-reel shown in dotted lines.

Figure 6 represents a side-elevational view of the vacuum cleaner of the present invention, partly in vertical cross-section on line 6--6 of Figure 4.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 represent top view, side elevational view (partly broken away) and rearelevational view, respectively, of another embodiment of the present invention, modified in respect to the disposition of the cord-reel, but otherwise the same as the embodiment heretofore shown.

For the purpose of illustrating the present invention, there are shown, in the accompanying drawings, exemplifying forms thereof, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the present invention consists can be variously arranged and organized 2 and that the present invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the .instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

In the embodiment of the vacuum cleaner of the present invention shown in the drawings, an outer housing or frame-like member 26 may be formed, either of one or more cast (or die-cast) parts or of one .or more press-shaped sheet-metal parts suitably united, (-or of one or more pressshaped sheet-metal and one or more cast parts.) and generally open underneath and generally closedat the top, and preferably having a pair of more or less symmetrically disposed generally tubular air-ports 2i and 22 extending therefrom in a generally rearward and/or upward direction, as shown more particularly in Figures 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6. One of the air-ports (as, for instance, 2 I) is the air-outlet through which the air is expelled into the dust-collector bag 23, while the other air-port (as, for instance, 22) is a suction inlet to which the manually-operated vacuum-tools or attachments may be connected. The suction inlet 22 also serves as a mechanical support or anchorage for one side of the generally flat dust collector bag 23 when the vacuum cleaner is used for vacuum-cleaning floors, rugs or carpets on the floor.

Each of the air-ports 2! and 22 may terminate in any suitable coupling collar (as, for instance, collars 24 and 25, respectively) or any other suitable quick-attachable and quick-detachable coupling or connector, either of the bayonet type or screw type or spring-jawed snap-on type--whereby the tubular bag-inlet 26 as well as the tubular bag'anchorage portion 2'! (at the lower end of the bag 23) may be quickly (and at will) attached to or detached from either or both of the generally tubular air-ports 2i and 22, respectively.

If desired, the two lower end-extensions 26 and 2'! of the dust-collector bag 23 may be equipped with the coupling collars or coupling means 24 and 25, while the tubular air-ports 2| and 22 may be threaded or otherwise suitably formed to receive the coupling collar or coupling means of the bag 23. The details of the quickattachable and quick-detachable coupling or connector means (24 and 25) are not shown, in the accompanying drawings, because any conventional (or new) connector means may be used.

In Figure 3 of the drawings, a cross-sectional view of the blind anchorage end 27 of the dustcollector bag 23 (and of the corresponding airport or nipple 22) is shown. When the blind end 2'! of the bag 23 is attached to the suctioninlet or nipple 22, such suction-inlet is thereby posed within the upper housing or frame-like member 25$. The fan-housing 32 may be formed integrally with the main housing 2% or it may be formed separately, and secured thereto (Figure 6 showing this fan-housing 33 as being formed integrally with the main housing 20). discharge duct or conduit 33 extends from the periphery of (and communicates with) the fanhousing or fan-chamber 32withthe duct disposed in a more or less tangential relationship to the generally circular (or round) fan-housing 32 at its juncture therewith, as indicated more particularly in Figure l. The duct 33 extends to and communicates with the outlet air-port or nipple 2! at the rear or posterior end of the housing 2Q-the duct 33 passing through the main wall of the housing Zil. The duct 33 may be formed integrally with the housing as and with the fan-housing 32, or it may be formed as a separate unit and thereafter assembled with the housing 23 and fan-housing 32.

In the lower part of the housing 28, the lower rotary brush and its operating mechanism, as well as the chassis, may be mounted from beneath, as shown particularly in Figure 6. Thus, the electric motor 34, with its axis and shaft 35 disposed vertically (or in a generally upright position), may be mounted upon any suitable chassis 36, which may also carry (or have formed integrally with it) the floor-suction inlet 3'! extending across more or less the full width of the front 38 of the vacuum cleaner, and the floor-suction duct 39 extending upwardly from the floor-suction inlet 3'! to the bottom of the fan-housing 32. The cross section of the duct 39 gradually changes from an elongated shape to a round shape as it extends upwardly into more or less coaxial relationship with (and into communication with) the bottom of the fan-housing or fanchamber 32-110 which it may be joined by the annulus 4e and the flange i i, which latter may be telescoped over the lower end of the ran-housing 32 with a more or less close fit or with suitable packing or sealing means therebetween.

A suction-inlet duct 42 branches out from the floor-duct E9, in a generally rearward direction (as generally indicated in Figure 4) from a part' of the floor section duct as beneath the fan-housing 32. The branch duct 42 extends rearwardly and merges into or communicates with the rear suction-inlet or nipple 22.

Any suitable multi-bladed air-impeller 43 is secured to the upper end 35 of the shaft of the motor 35, and is disposed within the fan-housing 32 in operative relation thereto. The impeller 53 is open underneath and preferably has an upper plate or disc M connecting its several blades, so that when the impeller is revolved at suitable speed, it will impel air centrifugally, toward the outer periphery or perimeter of the fan-housing 32 and hence expel the air through the duct 33 and nipple 2! into the dust-collector bag 23, and thereby correspondingly suck air upwardly through the floor-suction duct 39 or through the rear-suction duct 42 (according to whether the vacuum cleaner is used for floor An airvacuuming or with some attachment connected to the nipple 22.

The coupling-means of the attachment or tool (by which it is connected to the suctioninlet 22) either engages inside the suction-inlet 22 or is otherwise arranged. A clutch M is provided to cause the brush to be rotated when the motor 34 is operated. When the clutch is deactivated the brush remains stationary. Thereby the clutch it remains de-clutched or open and the brush remains stationary, while a cleaning tool or attachment is connected to the suctioninlet 22.

A cord-opening I86, flanked by upwardly raised journal portions or flanges Nil of the upperhousing 28, is provided for the reception of the handle-receiving hinge-member Hit in which the lower end is secured. The hinge-member I08 may be formed of sheet metal or otherwise made hollow, as indicated more particularly in Figure 5, with the upper tubular portion l Hi thereof serving as a socket for telescopically receiving the lower end of the tubular handle 109. A pivot pin or trunnions H! are extended inwardly from the journal portions life, as indicated particularly in Figure 5. Instead of having a pair of pivots or trunnions extending only into the corresponding openings H2 of the side-flanges H3 of the pivot member H38, a single pivot may be extended straight through.

Beneath and within the upper housing 20, and rearwardly of the motor 34, and preferably between the two air-ducts 33 and 42 (which ducts, together with the fan-housing 32 and the duct 39, are disposed in a generally U-shape, in respect to each other-in plane view), a spring-powered (or otherwise powered) cord-reel H4 is disposed. The cord-reel H6 may be of any suitable construction, including, but not limited to, the cordreel constructions of patent No. 2,391,840 and of co-pending application Serial No. 561,866, filed November 4, 1944, now Patent No. 2,591,214. The axle or shaft I 15 of the cord-reel I I4 is preferably horizontal and disposed transversely of the foreand-aft median plane of the vacuum cleaner housing 28, and includes the side flanges H5 and the drum portion I ll, within which is housed the powering spring as well as the control mechanism for starting and stopping the reel action by pulling on the electrical cord l 88 (or otherwise). The hinge-member Hi8 and the cord-reel H4 are so disposed, in relation to each other, that the electrical cord H8, passing through the hollow interior of the handle I09 and through the hingemember IE8 (and I I0) will be disposed generally tangentially with respect to the drum ll! of the cord-reel H4 in all angular positions of the handle, including the vertical position shown in the dotted lines in Figure 3, as well as in the horizontal position also shown in dotted lines in Figure 3-the cord-opening I86 in the upper housing 20 being just sufilcient to accommodate the cord H8 in all positions of the handle H19, across the full axial width of the drum H1. The cord-opening we is generally concealed, however, by the broad basal portion of the hinge-member The cord H8 terminates in an electrical-connector plug H23. The cord H8 passes out of the handle, near the top thereof, through a slightly angular or inclined cord-guide portion i2 5 car ried by or formed in the handle N39.

The bag 23 is preferably more or less flat, having an upper panel H9 and the lower. panel I20, and an inte vening side wall I2! extending a ound and onn ct-ins th upp r and lower panels, a d having lower tub lar ends 26 and .2] for detachable connection-with the nipples 2i and'22 of the vacuum-cleaner housing.

The upper end of the bag 23 is preferably fle ib y a d resil ent y hung rom the handle 1. .9., b a s ring .or oth r flexible and/o resilient spring .122 (or the like) from which it may be unhooked, at will.

The bag 23 may be formed of any suitable filtering fabric, which will permit air to pass therethrough, but will retain dust and other particles.

A partition-wall 825 is provided between the upper and lower panels H9 and '520, formed of .similar filtering fabric or the like, and extends from the bottom of the bag upwardly, but termihates considerably short of the upper end .of the bag, as shown particularly in Figure 1. By this means, the bag is divided longitudinally into more or less similar longitudinal compartments 1:26 and I27 communicating with each other at :the top of the bag 23, but not communicating with each other at the bottom The side l2! of the bag 23, flanking the collector-compartment I21, is parted along a longitudinal line I28, and to the parted edges of said sidewall l2l (of the bag 23) forthe length of the separate collector-compartment I27, 21 3 zipper type slide-fastener I29 is secured. The slide-fastener I29 may also be extended around the upper end 13,0 of the bag 23 to approximately the point 13!, so that the bag may also be opened up at its up er end. A fabric (or other flexible) flap is provided. inside the zipper, to seal the bag 23 along the line I28 against the free or unfiltered passage of air.

Into the collector-compartment I21, a porous ,or filter-paper bag I32, more or less conforming to the shape of the collector-compartment 21, may be inserted: the paper bag 532 being open at its upper end i373, but being otherwise continuous on all sides and at the bottomthe texture of the paper bag I 32 being such that air can flow through it while entrapping or retaining dust and other particles.

The dust-laden air driven out through the duct 3,3, by the impeller 43, passes out through the nipple 2 up through the lower tubular end 28 of the bag 23 and upwardly through the inlet compartment I26 thereof, in the direction shown by the arrows 2-9. Some of the air, of course, is expelled through the side-walls of the bag in the zone of the compartment H25 thereof. However. a large part of theair continues upwardly and then downwardly into thepaper bag 32 into the collector-compartment I27 thereof. where, because pi the lesser air-movement, the bulk ,of the dust tends to settle. By this means the accumulation of dust near the inlet 26 of the bag 23 is prevented, and the larger body of ac- ,cumulated dust and dirt is prevented from falling into the inlet 26 of the bag 23 and into duct 133 (particularly when the vacuum-cleaner is not in use and when it is merely being handled in the course of moving it about the house). Thus, by partitioning the bag 23 for a suitable distance upwardly from the bottom, the bulk of the accumulated dust is caused to settle on the side of the partition I25 opposite to the side on which the inlet 26 is disposed, thereby preventing the large mass of accumulated dust from falling back into the duct 33 and clogging of the bag 23. I

fit)

it and buildin up baQK'1pr, .,S l1 against the imp ller .43.-

n the other hand, the p per as 32.111 111. a -c mpartment .121 also serves to fa ilitat the final cleaningut of the :bag .23 by permitting the bulk of its contents to be removed by merely lifting out the paper bag 13}! and disarding the paper bag $32 with its contents. Thus, the pap has 152 is first removed an it is then rolled up a bit and then dumped :into a trash basket or trash container. .Ihereafter, if desired, the thinner layer of dust accumulated on the interior of the sides of the bag may .also be removed by shaking out the bag 23 itself. However, this latter operation need be less frequent than the removal and disposal of the paper bag I32, because the bulk of the dust and dirt will be accumulated in the paper bag I32.

Wheels Hill and Ml may be provided, for rollingly supporting the vacuum cleaner on any floor surface or carpet surface.

The bottom of the vacuum cleaner may further be enclosed by a bottom plate I42, and the outer perimeter of the vacuum cleaner may be surrounded by suitable resilient buiier strip I43, of rubber or the like.

The upper-housing 2B is preferably provided with a front light-recess I64 (see Figures 1, '2, 3 and 6, in which a suitable electric-light socket l 15 is mounted with its axis generally horizontal for the reception of a tubular electric incandescent light or the like. A reflector shield M6 may be placed behind the socket I45 (and behind the lamp carried thereby) for reflecting the light outwardly and downwardly from the recess or light chamber l 44.

A small opening may also be provided in the closure-disc 28 (covered by filtering fabric) so as to create a slight vacuum in the blind end 21 of the bag 23, to aid in maintaining the flow oi dust-laden air through the bag 23 generally in the direction of the arrows 29 shown in Figure 1, and to cause a greater accumulation of the dirt in the separate disposable paper bag I32, without appreciably reducing the floor-suction of the vacuum cleaner.

In Figures '7, 8 and 9, we have shown a modified embodiment of the present invention, in which the ,cord-reel is difierently disposed, although the other phases of this embodiment of the invention may be substantially the same as shown in Figures 1-6 inclusive.

Thus, in this embodiment of the present inven, tion, the cord-reel lid is mounted upon an axle or shaft ,l i 5 disposed in a generally upright position, although it may be tilted forwardly slightly as shown particularlyin Figured In this embodiment of the invention, the cord roe-1 lie pas es over one or more ,idle polls-hr idlespulleys and get, shown in dotted lines in Figures 7, 8 which serve to guide the cord i it onto thereei lift,

The pre nt in en i n be em odied .in specific without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore that the present embodiments be considered. in all respects as illustrative and restrictive, reference being had to the ap. pended claims rather than to the foregoing de. scription to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, the following is hereby claimed, and desired to be se oured by Letters Patent:

1. A vacuum-cleaner including a housing, having a floor-suction inlet therebeneath and an electric motor with its axis of rotation disposed generally upright and an air-mover driven thereby, a cord-reel Within said housing and substantially fully concealed thereby, with its axis disposed generally horizontally and transversely of said housing, a cord-opening in said housing above said reel to permit the passage of the cord therethrough generally tangentially of the reel, a handle pivotally connected with said housing generally above said reel and having a cord-concealing passageway terminating above and in operative alignment with said cord-opening in said housing for permitting the substantially concealed passage of the cord between the handle and said r el.

2. A 2 2 rm-cleaner including a housing, having a fioor-suction inlet at its front, a pair of filter bag receiving sockets, on the rear portion .of the housing with at least one of said sockets being an air port and an electric motor and an air-mmv er driven thereby disposed within said housing between said floor suction inlet and said filter bag sockets, a cord-reel substantially encased and concealed within said housing and disposed generally inter: ediate said filter bag sockets, a cord-opening in said housing in operative alignment with said reel, for permitting the passage or a cord through the housing, a handle-hinging member pivotally connected to said housing in operative alignment with said cord-opening and having a shield-portion substantially concealing said cord-opening from view, from above, a handle connected with said hinge-member and carrying a cord-passageway terminating in proximity of said shield. portion of said hinge-member, whereby the cord may pass through the passageway of the handle and onto the reel, substantially concealed from view.

3. A vacuum-cleaner including a housing, having a floor-suction inlet therebeneath and an electric motor with its axis of rotation disposed gel orally upright and an air-mover driven thereby, a cord-reel within the rear portion of said housing and substantially fully concealed therewith its axis disposed generally horizontally and transversely of said housing, a cord-opening in said housing above said reel to permit the Fassage of the cord therethrough generally tangentially of the reel for substantially the width of the reel, a generally tubular handle pivotally connected with said housing generally above said reel, and having a cord-concealing passageway terminating above and in operative alignment with said cord-opening in said housing above the reel, for permitting the substantially concealed passage or the cord between the handle and said reel.

4. A vacuum-cleaner including a housing, having a floor-suction inlet at its front, a pair of filter bag receiving sockets on the rear portion of the housing with at least one of said sockets being an air port and an electric motor and an air-mover driven thereby disposed within said housing between said floor suction inlet and said filter bag sockets, a cord-reel substantially encased and concealed within the rear portion of said housing with its axis in a plane different from the plane in which the motor-axis lies and disposed generally laterally intermediat said filter bag sockets, a cord-opening in said housing above said reel to permit the passage of a cord through the housing substantially throughout the width of said reel, a handle-hinging member pivotally connected to said housing generally above said cord-opening and having a shield-portion substantially concealing said cordopening from view, from above, a handle connected with said hinge member and carrying a cord-passageway terminating in proximity of said shield portion of said hinge-member, whereby the cord may pass through the passageway of the handle and onto the reel, substantially concealed from view.

5. A vacuum-cleaner including a housing having a floor-suction inlet at its front and a pair of filter bag receiving sockets on the rear portion of the housing with at least one of said sockets being an air port, an air-mover operatively disposed within said housing between said floor-suction inlet and said pair of filter bag sockets, and a cord-reel substantially fully encased and concealed within said housing and disposed generally laterally intermediate said pair of filter bag sockets and rearwardly of said airmover.

6. A vacuum-cleaner as claimed in claim 1 in which the handle includes a portion positioned forwardly of the opening and immediately ad- -iacent the upper portion of the casing, thereby su astantially concealing from the front the passage of the cord between the handle and the reel.

'7. A vacuum-cleaner including a housing having a floor-suction inlet at its front and a pair of filter bag receiving sockets on the rear portion of the housing with at least one of said sockets being an air port, an air-mover operatively disposed within said housing between said floorsuction inlet and said pair of filter bag sockets, and a cord-reel substantially fully encased and concealed within said housing and disposed generally laterally intermediate said pair of filter bag sockets and rearwardly of said air-mover and with its axis disposed in a generally upright position and a handle pivotally connected to said housing and having a cord-guiding passageway permitting the passage of the cord between the handle and the reel substantially concealed from the front.

BERNARD J. TAMARIN. ADOLPH MELETTI.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 962,569 Hirth June 28, 1910 1,218,134 Tyler Mar.'16, 191'! 1,383,455 Farnsworth July 5, 1921 1,542,597 Bates June 16, 1925 1,551,856 Tamarin Sept. 1, 1925 1,653,364 Adams Mar. 20, 1928 1,921,288 Farmer Aug- 8, 1933 1,929,025 Leathers Oct. 3, 1933 2,007,518 Calhoun July 9, 1935 2,122,568 Gasner July 5, 1938 2,172,911 Kirby Sept. 12, 1939 2,183,826 Taylor Dec. 19, 1939 2,218,035 Benson Oct. 15, 1940 2,218,156 Gerber Oct. 15, 1940 2,246,863 Smellie June 24, 1941 2,261,768 ..ones Nov. 4, 1941 2,281,858 Pierce May 5, 1942 2,340,440 Swann Feb. 1, 1944 2,353,452 Swann Nov. 21, 1944 2,411,488 White Nov. 19, 1946 

